Bringing Home the Mountain-Finding the Teacher Within unveils an intimate account of a path to awakening. The author tells of her retreat experiences as well as pilgrimages to the Sacred Mountain Arunachala in India, revealing both the struggles and rewards faced on the search for enlightenment. Heart opening insights, teachings, and specific meditation practices are weaved into the book to help the reader develop or deepen their own spiritual practice.

When Venkataraman, later known as Ramana Maharshi, first arrived to Tiruvannamalai as a teenager he mostly sat absorbed in a samadhi, or heightened meditation state. He nestled himself in a tiny room within a dark basement of the ancient Arunacheleswara Temple and lived there. Despite the relentless insects, rodents, and other teens that would physically harass him, he sat unmoving. Finally, a kind hearted man took pity on him, recognizing him as an advanced soul. Ramana was assisted in relocating to a mango grove where he stayed until settling into the caves of Arunachala.

With a heart filled with devotion, I visited the room where Ramana first stayed. It is now a sacred shrine dedicated in his honor. One of the resident swami's then took a friend and I on a tour into the temple's belly.

The swami painted our foreheads intraditional Hindu fashion with red, white, and black ash and included us in a blessing ceremony. We were led deeper and deeper into the temple, passing several small fire offerings until we approached the innermost shrine room. It became profoundly quiet. My body was lulled deeper through the winding path into the most inner sanctum. Several Hindu worshipers had gathered around a large, black sacred lingam, their object of devotion. A lingam or Shiva Linga is a phallic-shaped statue said to represent the creative powers of the Universe. We joined the others in the mysterious darkness within the temple’s belly. Suddenly, it became light with a vibrant energy. I looked for the source of light but I could not identify anything to account for the brightness.

About Me

I started this blog to express the deeper spiritual inspiration behind my book, Bringing Home the Mountain: Finding the Teacher Within, to share teachings especially pivotal on my path, including those by Ramana Maharshi, and to give a taste of the mysterious transmission received by the sacred mountain, Arunachala.
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